These are essentially a set of the earliest boxing cards! These 22 Carte-de-Visites show the greatest fighters of the 19th century. These photographic “calling cards” on elegant cardboard mounts are each 2.5x4”. The name of the fighter is brilliantly imprinted below the photo. The condition is a remarkable EX-MT to NRMT. The collection includes John Dempsey (The Non Pareil) , Ted Pritchard, Jem Smith, Charley Mitchel (another two spelled Charley Mitchell), John Mc Auliffe, Jim Barry, Patsey Cardiff, Alf Greenfell, Jimmy Mitchell, Jack Ashton, Jim Carney, Jim Fell, Jake Kilbain, Mike Cleary, Mike Boden, Frank Slavin (2) and Joe Goss. An outstanding example of the evolution of photography in combination with the art of boxing. These Carte-de-Visites were sold in photography studios in the 19th century. Those with advertising on the versos are the first sports cards. Boxing CdV’s (especially of known fighters) are extremely rare. This is by far the largest collection of matching CdV’s extant.